Bouncing Baby Bunnies

[boustany]

Hello
I had 1/3 of a tragedy on the weekend. I decided to mow some weeds (it used to be lawn) and discovered on the 4th pass over them, a rabbit's nest complete with three baby bunnies. I somehow managed to kill one, but the little fellas were pretty nervous from the experience. I still feel bad about the one I killed - I would have waited if I had known they were there.

The nest was gone, and so was momma. I figured it was just a matter of minutes before something like a hawk got them, so I rescued them. We have been bottle feeding them evaporated milk three times a day, as per a book we bought. They seem to be growing, and healthy, and I expect they'll be weened in a week or two.

Here is my question: is there any chance of 'domesticating' a wild rabbit? I would hate to let them go and get eaten which would be their likely fate if we released them when they get a bit older.

Another thing is, exactly how stupid can my dog be if he didn't know about a rabbit's nest 40 feet from my house, at least until I showed it to him?

 

[butzkeg]

I would never recommend domesticating any wild animal. Sure it's a rabbit, but it may not turn out.

My second point is, if you let them go, do you have a garden? If so, you'll end up shooting them to keep them from eating your veggies. Just get rid of them.

 

[HalseyGreen]

As a parent of two daughters who fell in love with rabbits, even raised a couple of wild ones. I offer this advise, if you have kids, rabbits are good pets, best kept outside (never had luck kitty litter breaking them - although friends did), they don't eat much, and can be handled easily, but start doing so when they are young. If you are in area with 4-H, see if there is a rabbit club. If you don't have kids, are you ready for another responsiblity? They need to be fed and watered twice a day, and their litter pan cleaned at least weekly, and what about vacations, the dog can go but taking rabbits is a little much. The manure is good for the garden. If you let them get larger and then turn them loose, they probably won't survive, as they would not have been taught the techniques of hiding and evasion, and they won't be afraid of your dog. Something will most likely get them.

 

[RichZ]

Brian sounds like you got them young enough so they would be easily domesticated, in fact since you're bottle feeding them, they will probably want to be with people. You can probably treat them like any domestic rabbit, having them live indoors or in an outdoor hutch.

 

[JohnS]

We have a sustained bunny population that lives in our headgerow. We will see new litters 2-3 times a year. We enjoy watching the young getting their bunny feet, zipping, and darting around the corner of the yard. The population seems to be growing even though a number are lost on the road, neighbor dog, coyote, hawks and other preditors. To date, none have come into range of our dogs, which are on run wires, and regreted it. Not because our dogs are slow or wouldn't try to catch them. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Don't know if it would be successful or not, but I would try to re-introduce them to the wild after they are weened off the milk. I imagine the sooner this is done, the better chances there will be for survival. As cruel as this may sound, if in the long run they don't survive, the hawks and other critters need to eat, as well. You might be feeling guilty to want to care for them, but you shouldn't, and its all part of the checks and balances in the little eco-system of your yard.

If you decide to keep them and domesticate them, just realize the long term commitment. They will never be able to be returned to the wild, and finding someone else to care for a "wild" rabbit, is very difficult. My mom still has a domesticated (outdoor pen) wild rabbit that her dog broke the foot of, over a year ago. She will be keeping it until it passes on.

PS: I did see a hawk come crashing down through some summac one day this spring. The bunny won that one!

 

[looch]

Up here it's illegal to keep any wild animal unless you have a permit. As JohnS mentioned, there are other wild animals that need to eat too.

Regarding the dogs, I have experienced the same thing this spring with my two German Shorthairs. These are pointing dogs and it's their job to find game. Yet they were unable to detect a nesting woodcock that I found while bush hogging last week. This is only my best guess here, but maybe nesting animals don't give off as much scent as they normally would? I hope that's the case, otherwise it's going to be a pretty sad hunting season this year.

 

[boustany]

Yeah, I know its illegal in some places to keep wild animals. Fortunately, I don't let legal/illegal interfere with right and wrong, which is where I make my own decisions.
I may be a heartless SOB at times, and I've killed my fair share of critters, but I draw the line at killing babies of any species (except, maybe, bugs). It's my fault the babies were sort of abandoned, so I'll try and correct it.
I've got 110 acres, including 30 acres of swamp that I personally protect, so on balance I do right by mother nature. The hawks can eat the other rabitts!
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ozarker]

There is another option. In many areas there are people who are trained and certified by the conservation folks to care for abandoned and injured wild animals. They nurse them back to health and then return them to the wild if they can or, if it is determined that the animal can't survive on it's own, send it to a petting zoo or similar. A call to your conservation department or a visit to their web site might give you information on such a program near you.

Keeping wild animals is illegal in most states but rescuing them as you have done is not.

 

[PTFarmer]

I think you are doing a noble thing by saving the baby bunnies. If the world had more people in it that think the way you do, I think it would be a better place. What possible harm could you be doing. As far as domesticating the bunnies, I think you already have. They will make great pets and a wonderful conversation topic for years to come. Keep up the good work.

 

[rocky2]

Turn 'em loose. Wild rabbits are just that, wild. Over the years growing up, we attempted to "domesticate" rabbits. You have to keep 'em penned up for a few generations to wean the wild out of them. Besides, it wasn't their fault mom picked a bad house site, why do they have to be incarcerated for her crime?! Nature has a way of maintaining balance as long as man stays out of the way. With the land you have they'll be fine and happy as bunnies in the bush…and they'll be bringing the grandkids home to meet the family in no time.